Almond tree

ABSTRACT

A new variety of almond tree with upright, stocky growth of medium vigor and size. The tree is further characterized by having heavy foliage of medium size leaves, an abundance of heavy white bloom, and being a regular and heavy bearer of medium size, sweet kernel almonds. The blooming time being after Nonpareil Almond (unpatented) but just ahead of Mission Almond (unpatented) and the harvest time being early, essentially with Nonpareil Almond.

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

The herein variety of almond tree was originated by me in myexperimental orchard located near Modesto, Calif., from a secondgeneration seedling of a cross between two self fertile peach almonds. Aselection having desirable characteristics, including self fertility,was made from the first generation and this selection was selfed to givea large number of seedlings from which this new and distinct variety ofself fertile almond was selected.

ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION OF THE VARIETY

The present variety was asexually propagated by budding, as performednear Modesto, Calif., shows that the said characteristics come true toform and are established and transmitted through succeeding propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

The present variety of almond tree is of medium size and vigor, thegrowth being upright and stocky and a regular and heavy bearer of mediumsize nuts which are easy to harvest and hull. The blooming period beingafter Nonpareil Almond but slightly before Mission Almond and theharvest time being early, essentially with Nonpariel. The medium sizekernels in most cases are completely sealed by a soft shell, having arelatively high percentage of kernel to shell. The present variety ofalmond tree is further characterized by being self fruitful and alsohaving the ability to serve as an effective pollenizer for othervarieties of almonds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The drawing is a photographic reproduction in color illustrating twigswith a cluster of nuts attached; nuts in the hull, nuts out of hull butin the shell, and kernels out of the shell. The photographs also showtypical specimens of foliage with upper and lower surfaces of the leavesbeing illustrated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The botanical details of this new and distinct variety of almond tree,as based upon observations of specimens grown at Modesto, Calif., withcolor terminology in accordance with Reinhold Color Atlas by A. Kornerupand J. H. Wanscher.

Tree:

Size.--Medium.

Vigor.--Medium.

Density.--Dense.

Trunk:

Form.--Stocky.

Texture.--Medium.

Branches:

Form.--Stocky.

Texture.--Medium.

Lenticels.--Medium number and size.

Branching habit.--Medium upright.

Foliage: Abundant.

Leaves:

Size.--Small. Average length -- 23/4". Average width -- 3/4".

Shape.--Ovate.

Thickness.--Medium.

Texture.--Smooth.

Margin.--Crenate.

Petiole.--Medium length. Medium thickness.

Color.--Upper surface -- grayish green (28-E-6 to 28-E-4). Lower surface-- dull green (28-E-5 to 28-E-4).

glands.--Usually two, alternate, positioned mainly on petiole, sometimeson base of blade.

Bloom:

Amount.--Heavy.

Color.--White.

Blooming period.--Usually 2 to 3 days before Mission.

Crop:

Bearing.--Regular bearer.

Productivity.--Very heavy.

Distribution of nuts on tree.--Well distributed.

Harvest period.--Approximately with Nonpareil.

Hull:

Outer surface.--Relatively smooth.

Suture.--Lightly ridged.

Dehiscence.--Opens freely.

Splitting.--Along suture.

Nut:

Size.--Average length 11/4". Average width 5/8".

Form.--Length/width -- ovate. Width/thickness -- plump to medium.

Shell.--Soft.

Color.--Brownish orange (5-C-6).

pits.--Small, numerous.

Base.--Square to ventrally oblique.

Stem scar.--Small to medium.

Apex.--Acute.

Inter surface.--Medium color.

Wing.--Broad and thin.

Percentage of kernel to nut.--Averages approximately 63%.

Kernel:

Size.--Average length 7/8". Average width 7/16".

Form.--Length/width -- ovate. Width/thickness -- plump to medium.

Base.--Round.

Apex.--Obtuse. Acuminate. Slightly prolonged at tip.

Texture.--Smooth to wrinkled.

Pellicle.--Thin.

Number of doubles.--Medium.

Flavor.--Sweet.

Quality.--Good.

Color of skin.--Golden yellow (5-B-7).

color of meat.--White (1-A-1).

the tree and its nuts herein described may vary in slight detail due toclimatic and soil conditions under which it may be grown. Thedescription is that of the variety produced under the ecologicalconditions prevailing at Modesto, Calif., and the characteristics arefound to hold true in asexual reproduction of the variety.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of almond tree, as shown and described, characterized by the tree being of medium size and vigor, medium upright in growth, having a heavy set of bloom, blooming a few days before Mission, and a heavy and regular bearer of medium size nuts, which are well distributed along the branches and are easy to harvest and hull; the variety being self-fertile and harvesting with Nonpareil. 